Mena

Mena serves the kind of elegant comfort food we eat in fantasies where we dine al fresco at sunset overlooking the ocean, draped in cashmere (like we imagine Meryl Streep does on Sunday evenings). A meal at this “globally-inspired” Tribeca spot feels impressive and of-the-moment—but there are zero gimmicks and many delightful surprises. The four-course prix fixe menu changes every few days, but you can expect dishes like Spanish lentils with salty duck cracklings hidden under a chic pile of crispy mushrooms and a plate of scallops with a thin slice of radish camouflaged on top for extra kick. Tribeca is tragically far from the seaside sunset of our dreams, but the feel of the room here is candlelit and cashmere soft, filled almost exclusively with tables for two. Bring someone you’re serious about, and plan a romantic trip to whichever coastline inspired the food you wind up eating.